⁵⁵ But filled with the Holy Spirit, he gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.^{(A) 56} “Look,” he said, “I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”^{(B) 57} But they covered their ears, and with a loud shout all rushed together against him. ⁵⁸ Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him, and the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul.^{(C) 59} While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”^{(D) 60} Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he died.^[a](E)

² Like newborn infants, long for the pure, spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow into salvation^(A)— ³ if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.^[a](B)

⁴ Come to him, a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God’s sight, and ⁵ like living stones let yourselves be built^[b] into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.^{(C) 6} For it stands in scripture:

⁷ This honor, then, is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe,^[c]

⁸ and

They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.^(F)

⁹ But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people,^[d] in order that you may proclaim the excellence of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.^(G)